Method for providing alternative network-associated service address mobile registration

ABSTRACT

A method provides for utilizing a packet-switched network to support services provisioned to mobile station subscribers. Address information is exchanged with a mobile switching center that services the subscriber so as to be able to identify data port addresses to be utilized to support the services via transmissions over a packet-switched network.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/330,272 filed 11 Jun. 1999, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Application Ser. No. 09/330,272 claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/113,928 filed 24 Dec. 1998 entitled “Method For Providing IP-Associated Mobile Registration”, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for permitting a mobile device to register for services. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for shifting communication service registration from a dedicated signaling network to a general purpose data network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless services have become more and more popular. Such wireless services provide subscribers with mobility while still maintaining the ability to communicate either by voice or by data with others. As the number of wireless subscribers has increased, there has been a strain placed both on the communication networks themselves as well as the signaling networks which have been utilized for call setup, call control, and mobility management, such as the SS7 signaling network. As more sophisticated services have developed for the mobile subscriber, these services have grown to rely heavily upon available SS7 signaling network bandwidth. The combination of this increase of services and an increase in subscriber base threatens to place undue strain on the signaling system (SS7) network.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system in which the SS7 network is utilized for providing certain registration and services to a mobile subscriber. In this system a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSC) 10, 20, 30 are all coupled to a signaling transfer point (STP) 40 via the SS7 signaling network which is represented by the dashed lines. Each MSC has one or more base stations (BS), shown as elements 11, 12, 21, 22 and 31. The system also includes a service control point (SCP) and home location register (HLR) here shown as combined element 50. This element keeps track of information related to subscribers that are given wireless service. For example, as shown in the figure, the HLR maintains information about a number of mobile stations here shown as MS₁, MS₂, and MS_(X). The HLR keeps profile information in a database regarding various mobile subscribers. As an example, each profile can indicate information about the mobile identification number (MIN), the electronic serial number (ESN), information about where the mobile station is currently registered (that is, with which MSC the mobile station last registered), as well as a list of services for which the mobile subscriber has subscribed. Examples of services which may be available include: call waiting, caller ID, four digit dialing, and other services which might be available to wireless users provided by various wireless service carriers.

Another element in the system is a Message Center (MC) 60. Such a Message Center, typically employed in wireless systems which provide a service known as Short Messaging Service (SMS) to subscribers, contains text messages which are to be provided to mobile stations. The messages typically are transported from MC 60 to the appropriate MSC via the SS7 network and are subsequently forwarded to the intended recipient mobile station MS.

Another element shown in the system is the Wireless Gateway Manager (WGM) 70 which can couple a plurality of wireless office systems (WOS) 71, 72 and 73 to the STP via, for example, a frame relay network 75. As is shown in the figure, at least one of the wireless office systems may include a voice mail system (VM) 76.

In the system of FIG. 1, presume that MS_(x) 83 is one of the subscribers to the wireless service and has an affiliation with the voice mail system 76 and desires to receive a message waiting indicator (MWI) from that voice mail system even when away from the wireless office system 73. To accomplish that end in the prior art, the MS_(x) registers with the MSC 10 via the base station 12 with which it is operating. MSC 10 then becomes the serving MSC (S-MSC) and sends a registration notification to SCP/HLR 50. This registration notification is transported via the SS7 network and through the signal transfer point 40. The SCP/HLR 50 in turn signals the VM 76 via the SS7 network, the STP 40, the WGM 70, the frame relay 75 and its associated WOS 73 so as to advise the VM as to where the MS_(x) resides. If the VM has a message about which it desires to advise the MS_(x), then further signaling is transported via the SS7 network to the S-MSC 10 and a message waiting indication is sent out to the mobile station MS_(x) 83. Alternatively, the HLR could have updated its own MWI information sometime prior to the registration by MS_(x) and in such circumstance the HLR sends MWI information to the S-MSC. As can be seen, the signaling to provide this one service alone entails a not insignificant usage of the SS7 network. Other services, such as providing short messages from the message center via SS7 to the serving MSC, further burden the signaling network. Another service that consumes signaling network resources relates to voice messaging systems connected to MSCs whereby the SCP/HLR 50 updates its subscriber records concerning such messages and uses the signaling network to do so. Moreover, the very notion of carrying user data, rather than conventional signaling data such as call control, may itself be a burden on the signaling network. It would be beneficial if a technique could be provided for off-loading some of the subscriber services' demand from the SS7.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method by which certain functionality that supports services to be offered to wireless subscribers is off-loaded from the signaling system network and is instead provided by an alternative network. The present invention accomplishes this method, in part, by utilizing communication between a service node (e.g., MSC) and a service control point (SCP) (e.g., HLR).

For purposes of the present invention, an alternative network encompasses both connection oriented and connectionless (e.g., packet) networks. In addition a connection oriented network may include both circuit and packet (e.g., ATM) switching.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the registration process by which a S-MSC notifies the subscriber's HLR includes a transfer of information sufficient to enable subsequent data communication via a packet network (e.g., Internet Protocol (IP) network). For example, the S-MSC may notify the HLR of a packet network address at which it can be contacted to provide a given service to the mobile station in question. Alternatively, the HLR can advise the S-MSC of a packet network address which it can utilize to provide a given service to be made available to the mobile station subscriber.

In this arrangement, data communications necessary to support providing of the services provided to wireless subscribers is carried in a network separate from the signaling network normally utilized for call control and call management.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a signal flow in connection with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the present invention, data transfers to be used to support services for a wireless subscriber can be shifted from the SS7 network to a alternative network, including, but not limited to, connection oriented networks and connectionless networks. For example, at registration time the S-MSC and the subscriber's HLR can exchange sufficient information so as to enable service support information to be transferred to and from the S-MSC via an alternative network such as a packet network (e.g., the Internet). In such a circumstance, the S-MSC can then provide the HLR with one or more packet network addresses that will support various services available to the mobile stations registered with that S-MSC. Alternatively, the HLR can forward packet network address information with regard to those system elements which will support services to be provided to the S-MSC and on to the mobile subscriber registered therewith.

The illustrative embodiments below speak in terms of an IP network, however it should be understood that any alternative network could be used. The illustrative embodiments below also speak in terms of a HLR, however it should be understood that any SCP could be used, including, but not limited to a HLR, an Authentication Center (AC), a VM, a Digit Translation Application (DTA), or a MC. In addition, the illustrative embodiments below speak in terms of a S-MSC, however, it should be understood that any service node could be used.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in block diagram form, a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Elements in FIG. 2 which are the same as those in FIG. 1 are shown with the same reference symbols. The modifications to the various network elements include the capability of communicating via the IP network 200. While only MSC 100 is shown to be connected to the IP network, the other MSCs 20 and 30 could be modified to be so coupled or be capable of coupling to the IP network. Similarly, the WGM 70 may be coupled to the IP network as well, although in the example shown in FIG. 2 it is not. By providing elements such as MSC 100, message center 600, SCP/HLR 500 and VM 760 with the ability to communicate over the IP network 200, it presents an opportunity for shifting certain data communications which would otherwise occur in support of services for a subscriber from the SS7 network to the IP network. For example, rather than, as in the prior art, carrying the message waiting indicator information or the short messages via the SS7 network to the serving MSC 10 for mobile station MS_(x), that service information could instead be carried via the IP network 200 to an IP address for MSC 100. The packet message would include information identifying the mobile station for which the service is to be rendered, here MS_(x). The processing capabilities in the MSC would then take the received packet data information and provide the appropriate service to the mobile station. For example, the voice mail system 760 may transfer its message waiting indication via the IP network 200 to MSC 100 which in turn would understand that such an indication should be transmitted to MS_(x) 83 via typical message waiting indication signaling from base station 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process flow which may occur in connection with an embodiment of the present invention. Here, MS_(x) may register via an over the air interface with MSC 100 which becomes S-MSC. This registration may take place via a standard registration signal in the IS-136 protocol. The S-MSC then sends a registration notification signal (REGNOT) via SS7 to the HLR 500. This notification signal is found in the ANSI-41 protocol or in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). If the S-MSC supports the service of Message Waiting Indication (MWI), via for example an IP network, then it can so notify the HLR along with the registration signal and can designate to the HLR a IP network address, herein IP address, at which the serving MSC can receive information to support the providing of this service to any mobile station with which it is in communication. The HLR can then, in turn, send a message via the SS7 network to the voice mail system 760. The information can include an address update with respect to the particular mobile station MS_(x). The HLR knows to signal this particular voice mail system 760 based on the subscriber profile which it stores regarding MS_(x). It then can notify the voice mail system that when the voice mail system 760 wishes to send an MWI to MS_(x), it should send it to the IP address corresponding to the serving MSC. When the voice mail system subsequently has a message waiting indication update for MS_(x), it can send such an update via the IP network 200 to IP address ∝. Upon receipt of this update, the S-MSC 100 processes the packet data information and generates the message waiting indication information which must be sent over the air via, for example, IS-136 standards to the MS_(x).

In the embodiment that has just been described, the HLR can signal the voice mail system via the SS7 network. To further reduce the load on the SS7 network, it is possible that the HLR will maintain information in its subscriber profile regarding the IP address of the VM 760. Since this information is not likely to change often, it can be utilized frequently without needing to transfer information to the VM via SS7. Therefore, the method described above could be modified such that the address update is transmitted to the VM at its IP address which has been stored in the HLR.

Also shown in FIG. 3 is an alternative technique for exchanging packet network address information. Rather than the S-MSC assuming the responsibility for defining its own IP address to support a particular service, it is possible that the HLR in either its acceptance of the registration, here shown as the ACCEPT message, or in some other subsequent message exchange with the S-MSC, could transfer information to the MSC identifying a given service (for example service ABC) and an IP address that the S-MSC should utilize to support the service (here IP address β). Thus, the S-MSC can define its IP address, or it can receive an IP address necessary to support a service, or there could be some combination of exchanges. Furthermore, with regard to the transmissions between the HLR and the VM described above, it is conceivable that the very first transmission between the S-MSC and the HLR could include an IP address from the S-MSC which defines a location by which the HLR and S-MSC can communicate to establish all of the remaining information necessary to support the services between the MSC and the HLR. That is, rather than the MSC specifically identifying individual services that it supports via the SS7 network, it could simply send an IP address notifying the HLR where to go to find out the services that the S-MSC supports and to communicate with that S-MSC to exchange data necessary to support a full range of services to be made available to a mobile station MS_(x).

Furthermore variations on the S-MSC/HLR exchange are considered as well. For instance, the S-MSC could send a list of services (list X), the list including service identifiers and an IP address for each service which may or may not be unique to a given service. The services need not be limited to data services, but can relate to voice services as well. Alternatively the HLR could send a list of services (list Y), including service identifiers and an IP address for each service which may or may not be unique to a given service. The services identified in the lists may or may not overlap. Also the lists may be dynamic, that is, subject to change. In another variation the S-MSC and HLR can exchange list X and list Y.

After the REGNOT/ACCEPT exchange, the use of the service/address pairs can vary, as follows. Referring to the first exchange, where the S-MSC sends list X, the HLR might store the Service List for its own sole use. That is, as information intended for an MS reaches the HLR (by conventional or IP associated mechanisms), the HLR would use the alternate means afforded by the service/address pair to convey information to the S-MSC and, therefore, to the MS. Alternatively, the HLR might forward some of the service/address pairs to the node(s) associated with the indicated service. In these cases when the node receiving the new address information has new data for an MS, it would communicate with S-MSC directly and not via the HLR.

Referring to the second exchange, where the HLR sends list Y, the HLR is providing S-MSC with current service/address pairs for static or quasi static node addresses stored at the HLR. The transfer of these service/address pairs to the S-MSC would typically be based on the HLR having prior knowledge of the S-MSC's transport capabilities. Note that the information in “Service List Y” is conveyed as part of the REGNOT/ACCEPT exchange but service/address pairs exchanged in this direction need not be limited to a registration sequence. For example, events external to the S-MSC and the HLR might occur that would cause a service node to convey to the HLR a new service/address pair for a MS. The HLR would convey this to the S-MSC independent of registration sequences—so that the S-MSC has the correct current address for the associated service.

While the invention has been described with regard to a voice mail service, it is equally applicable to other services available to the mobile station subscriber. For example, the SMS information can be transferred from the message center to the serving MSC via the IP network as is suggested by the connections shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, other services which rely upon data transmission to and from the serving MSC could rely on an IP network as a transport mechanism once IP addresses have been exchanged. This means that, as services increase and the number of subscribers increase, the additional load of data exchanges is passed off to the IP network rather than taxing the already heavily utilized signaling network. Furthermore, while the present invention has been described with reference to utilizing, for example, the Internet, to carry this additional information to and from the serving MSC, it should be recognized that other data networks might be employed as well; it is just that the Internet at this time has provided an opportunity for relatively ubiquitous communication services.

While the present invention is described with respect to specific embodiments, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method comprising: responsive to a registration of a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services, sending an IP network address to a subscriber service node that provides a subscriber service, wherein the IP network address is capable of receiving information to support providing of the subscriber service to the mobile station; and processing information sent by the subscriber service node and received at the IP network address, to support providing of the subscriber service to the mobile station.
 2. A method comprising: contacting a network node pursuant to the providing of a subscriber service to a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services; receiving from the network node an IP network address capable of supporting the subscriber service; and using the IP network address to support providing the subscriber service to the mobile station.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network node is a home location register.
 4. A method comprising: from a first network node, contacting a second network node pursuant to the providing of a subscriber service to a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services; and sending the second network node an IP network address identifying for the second network node a location to find services supported by the first network node.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first network node is a mobile switching center.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the second network node is a home location register.
 7. A network device configured to: responsive to a registration of a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services, send an IP network address to a subscriber service node that provides a subscriber service, wherein the IP network address is capable of receiving information to support providing of the subscriber service to the mobile station; and process information sent by the subscriber service node and received at the IP network address, to support providing of the subscriber service to the mobile station.
 8. A network device configured to: contact a network node pursuant to the providing of a subscriber service to a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services; receive from the network node an IP network address capable of supporting the subscriber service; and use the IP network address to support providing the subscriber service to the mobile station.
 9. The network device of claim 8, wherein the network node is an HLR.
 10. A network device configured to: contact a network node pursuant to the providing of a subscriber service to a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services; and send the network node an IP network address identifying for the network node a location to find services supported by the network device. 